Chapter 1
Groups
1.1 Definitions and Examples
Definition 1.1.1. A group is a set G together with a binary operation " :
G × G G which satisfies the following axioms:
(i) (x " y) " z = x " (y " z) for all x, y, z in G,
(ii) " e " G such that e " x = x = x " e for all x in G,
(iii) for each x in G, " y " G such that y " x = e = x " y.
Definition 1.1.2. Let G be a group. If G is finite, then the order of G, denoted
|G|, is the number of elements of G. If G is infinite, G is said to have an infinite
order.
Definition 1.1.3. Let G be a group and x " G. Then x is said to be of infinite
order if there is no positive power of x equals the identity. If xn = e for some
n " N, the smallest such n is called the order of x , denoted o(x).
Theorem 1.1.4. Let G be a semigroup. Then TFAE:
(i) G is a group.
(ii) " e " G such that ae = a for all a " G; and for each a " G there is an
a " G such that aa = e. (e and a multiply on the right.)
1.2 Homomorphisms 2
(iii) " e " G such that ea = a for all a " G; and for each a " G there is an
a " G such that a a = e. (e and a multiply on the left.)
Definition 1.1.5. A group G is abelian if xy = yx for all x, y " G. In this
case, one can choose to write additively, that is:
(i) the binary operation is  + (x + y := x " y), and
(ii) 0 is the unit element, and -x denotes the inverse of x.
Definition 1.1.6. A nonempty subset H of a group G is called a subgroup of
G if H is a group under the group operation inherited from G. If H is a subgroup
of G, we write H d" G.
Theorem 1.1.7. Let G be a group and let " = H Ä…" G. Then TFAE:

(i) H is a subgroup of G.
(ii) a, b " H Ò! ab " H, and a " H Ò! a-1 " H.
(iii) a, b " H Ò! ab-1 " H.
1.2 Homomorphisms
Definition 1.2.1. Let (G, ć%) and (G , ") be groups. A mapping È : G G is
called a homomorphism (of groups) if
È(a ć% b) = È(a) " È(b) for all a, b " G.
A homomorphism is called an isomorphism if it is bijective (1 1 and onto).
<"
G and G are said to be isomorphic, denoted G G , if there exists an isomor-
=
phism from G onto G .
Definition 1.2.2. Let È be a homomorphism from G to G . The kernel of È,
ker È, is defined to be
ker È = {g " G | È(g) = e }
1.3 Cyclic Groups and Generators 3
where e is the identity of G .
Theorem 1.2.3. Let È : G G be a homomorphism. Then
(i) È(e) = e where e and e are identities in G and G , respectively;
(ii) È(x-1) = (È(x))-1 for all x " G;
(iii) È(x1x2 . . . xn) = È(x1)È(x2) . . . È(xn) for all x1, x2, . . . , xn " G;
(iv) È(xn) = (È(x))n for all n " Z;
(v) ker È is a subgroup of G ;
(vi) ker È = {e} if and only if È is 1-1;
(vii) Im È is a subgroup of G .
1.3 Cyclic Groups and Generators
Theorem 1.3.1. Let G be a group and a " G. Then {an | n " Z} is a subgroup
of G and it is the smallest subgroup of G containing a.
Definition 1.3.2. The subgroup {an | n " Z} of a group G is called the cyclic
subgroup of G generated by a and will be denoted by a .
Definition 1.3.3. A group G is called a cyclic group if G = a for some
a " G. a is then called a generator of G and we say that a generates G.
Theorem 1.3.4. Every cyclic group is abelian.
Theorem 1.3.5. A subgroup of cyclic group is cyclic.
Theorem 1.3.6. Let G be a cyclic group of order n generated by a. Let b = as
n
for some s < n. Then b generates a cyclic subgroup of G containing elements,
d
where d = gcd(n, s).
Corollary 1.3.7. If a is a generator of a finite cyclic group G of order n, then
the set of all generators of G is {ar | gcd(n, r) = 1}.
1.4 Group Actions 4
Theorem 1.3.8. (i) (Z, +) is the only infinite cyclic group (up to isomorphism).
(ii) (Zn, +) is the only cyclic group of order n (up to isomorphism).
Corollary 1.3.9. The subgroups of (Z, +) are the groups nZ for n " Z.
Definition 1.3.10. Let X be a nonempty subset of a group G. The smallest sub-
group of G containing X, denoted X , is called the subgroup of G generated
by X . We say that X generates X .
If X is finite, say X = {x1, x2, . . . , xn}, we shall simply write x1, x2, . . . , xn
for X . If X = G, we say that X is a set of generators of G. If X is finite
and X = G, then G is said to be finitely generated.
Theorem 1.3.11. Let G be a group and X Ä…" G. Then
(i) " = {e},
1
n
(ii) X = {xÄ… · · · xÄ… | xi are n distinct elements of X, Ä…i " Z and n " N}.
1 n
Moreover, if G is finite, then X is the set of all products of elements of X
(i.e. each Ä…i is a positive integer).
Theorem 1.3.12. A group G is isomorphic to Dn if and only if it is generated
by two elements a, b such that an = 1 = b2 and bab = a-1.
1.4 Group Actions
Definition 1.4.1. Let G be a group and X be a set. We say that the group
G acts on the set X or X is a G set if there is a mapping G × X X,
(g, x) g · x (or gx), which satisfies
(i) 1 · x = x for all x " X, where 1 is the identity element of G; and
(ii) g · (h · x) = (gh) · x for all g, h " G and all x " X.
Definition 1.4.2. Let G act on X. If g = 1 is the only element of G which
fulfills the identity g · x = x for all x " X, then we say that G acts faithfully
on X.
1.4 Group Actions 5
For each x " X, G · x = {g · x | g " G} is called the orbit of x and is
also denoted by orb(x). If G · x = X for some x " X, then G is said to act
transitively on X. For each Y Ä…" X, the set {g " G | g · Y = Y } is called the
stabilizer of Y , denoted Stab(Y ), or Stab(x) in case Y = {x}.
Theorem 1.4.3. Let G act on X. Then for each g " G the function Ãg :
X X defined by Ãg(x) = g · x is a permutation of X. Furthermore, the map
Ć : G S(X) defined by Ć(g) = Ãg is a homomorphism with the property that
(Ć(g))(x) = g · x. The homomorphism Ć is called the permutation represen-
tation associated to the given action. The kernel of this homomorphism is the
set {g " G | g · x = x "x " X}.
Theorem 1.4.4 (Cayley s Theorem). Every group is isomorphic to a subgroup
of a permutation group. If a group is of order n, then it is isomorphic to a
subgroup of Sn.
Theorem 1.4.5. Let G be a group. Suppose that G acts on a set X. Define a
relation <" on X by
x <" y if and only if y = g · x for some g " G.
Then
(i) <" is an equivalence relation on X, and
(ii) the orbit of x " X, G · x, is its equivalence class w.r.t. the relation <".
Thus X is the disjoint union of all distinct orbits under the action of G.
Definition 1.4.6. If H d" G and x " G, Hx = {hx | h " H} is called a right
coset of H in G, and xH = {xh | h " H} is called a left coset of H in G.
Definition 1.4.7. Let H be a subgroup of a group G. Then the number of
disjoint right (or left) cosets of H in G is called the index of H in G, denoted
[G : H]. (i.e. [G : H] = |›| where › is the index set of {xÄ… | Ä… " ›}, the right
transversal of H in G.)
1.4 Group Actions 6
Theorem 1.4.8 (Lagrange s Theorem). Let G be a finite group and H d" G.

Then |H| divides |G|. In particular o(g) |G| for all g " G.
Corollary 1.4.9. Let G be a finite group and H d" G. Then
|G| = [G : H] |H|.
Theorem 1.4.10. Let G be a group which acts on a set X and x " X. Then
Stab(x), the stabilizer of {x}, is a subgroup of G, and
[G : Stab(x)] = |G · x|.
Theorem 1.4.11 (The Orbit-Stabilizer Theorem). Let G be a finite group
which acts on a set X. Then for each x " X,
|G| = |G · x| · |Stab(x)|.
Definition 1.4.12. Let G be a group and A be a nonempty subset of G. The
centralizer of A in G, CG(A), and the normalizer of A in G, NG(A), are
defined as follows:
CG(A) = {g " G | gag-1 = a for all a " A},
NG(A) = {g " G | gAg-1 = A},
In particular, Z(G) = CG(G) is called the center of G
Theorem 1.4.13. Let G be a group and " = A Ä…" G. Then CG(A) and NG(A)

are subgroups of G. Moreover CG(A) is a subgroup of NG(A).
Theorem 1.4.14. Let G be a finite group and x " G. Then the number of
conjugates of x is [G : CG(x)]. In particular, the number of conjugates of x
divides the group order.
Theorem 1.4.15 (The Class Equation). Let G be a finite group. Then
t

|G| = |Z(G)| + [G : CG(xi)]
i=1
where x1, x2, . . . , xt are representatives from all orbits of size greater than one.
1.5 Quotient Groups and Isomorphism Theorems 7
Theorem 1.4.16. Let G be a finite group and Y Ä…" G. Then the number of
conjugates of Y is [G : NG(Y )]. In particular, the number of conjugates of Y
divides the group order.
Theorem 1.4.17 (Cauchy s Theorem). If G is a finite group and p is a
prime divisor of |G|, then the number of solutions of gp = 1 in G is a multiple of
p. Hence G contains an element of order p.
Theorem 1.4.18 (Burnside s Theorem). Let G be a finite group acting on
a finite set X. For each g " G, let
Ä(g) = the number of points in X fixed by g.
Then the number of orbits in X is

1
N = Ä(g).
|G|
g"G
1.5 Quotient Groups and Isomorphism Theo-
rems
Definition 1.5.1. Let N be a subgroup of a group G. Then N is said to be a
normal subgroup of G, and write N G, if gNg-1 Ä…" N for all g " G.
Theorem 1.5.2. Let N be a subgroup of a group G. Then TFAE:
(i) N is a normal subgroup of G.
(ii) gNg-1 = N for all g " G.
(iii) gN = Ng for all g " G.
(iv) (Na)(Nb) = Nab for all a, b " G.
(v) (aN)(bN) = abN for all a, b " G.
1.5 Quotient Groups and Isomorphism Theorems 8
Theorem 1.5.3. Let N be a normal subgroup of a group G. Then G/N =
{Na | a " G} is a group under the multiplication defined by
Na · Nb = Nab, (a, b " G).
The group G/N is called the quotient group or the factor group of G by N.
The map ¸ : G G/N defined by ¸(a) = Na is a group homomorphism
whose kernel is N.
¸ Ć
Definition 1.5.4. Let G - H - K be a sequence of group homomorphisms.
We say that it is exact at H if Im ¸ = ker Ć. A short exact sequence of
groups is a sequence of group homomorphisms
¸ Ć
1 - G - H - K - 1 ,
which is exact at G, H and K.
Theorem 1.5.5 (The First Isomorphism Theorem). If Ć : G H is a group
<"
homomorphism, then ker Ć is a normal subgroup of G and G/ ker Ć Im Ć.
=
|H||K|
Theorem 1.5.6. If H and K are finite subgroups of a group, |HK| = .
|H )" K|
Theorem 1.5.7. If H and K are subgroups of a group G, then HK is a subgroup
if and only if HK = KH.
Corollary 1.5.8. If H and K are subgroups of a group G and H d" NG(K),
then HK is a subgroup of G. In particular, if K is normal in G, then HK is a
subgroup of G for any subgroup H of G.
Theorem 1.5.9 (The Second Isomorphism Theorem). Let H and N be

subgroups of a group G with N normal. Then H )"N is normal in H and H (H )"
<"
N) HN/N.
=
Theorem 1.5.10 (The Third Isomorphism Theorem). Let N be a normal
subgroup of a group G. Then the map H H/N gives a 1-1 correspondence
between the set of subgroups of G containing N and the set of subgroups of G/N.
Moreover this correspondence carries normal subgroups to normal subgroups. If
H G, and N Ä…" H Ä…" G, then

<"
G/H (G/N) (H/N).
=
1.6 Direct Products and Abelian Groups 9
1.6 Direct Products and Abelian Groups
Definition 1.6.1. Let {AÄ… | Ä… " ›} be a family of groups. The

set AÄ… is a group under the coordinatewise operation. It is
Ä…"›
called the (strong) direct product of the groups AÄ…. The subgroup


(aÄ…) " AÄ… | all but finitely many aÄ… = 1Ä… is called the weak direct
Ä…"›

product (or direct sum) of the groups AÄ…, and is denoted {AÄ… | Ä… " ›} or

AÄ….
Ä…"›
Theorem 1.6.2. If A and B are subgroups of G such that
(i) A )" B = {e},
(ii) AB = G, and
(iii) ab = ba " a " A " b " B,
<"
then G A × B. We say that G is the (internal) direct product of A and
=
B. Note that the condition (iii) can be replaced by that A and B are normal
subgroups of G.
Theorem 1.6.3 (Chinese Remainder Theorem). Let m1, . . . , mk, n1, . . . , nk
be integers. If m1, m2, . . . , mk are pairwise relatively prime, then there exists an
integer n such that
n a" ni mod mi for all i = 1, . . . , k.
Theorem 1.6.4. Let m1, m2, . . . , mk be pairwise relatively prime integers and
m = m1m2 · · · mk. If g is an element in G satisfying gm = 1, then there exist
unique g1, g2, . . . , gk " G such that
mi
(i) gi = 1 for all i = 1, 2, . . . , k,
(ii) g1, g2, . . . , gk are pairwise commutative, and
(iii) g = g1g2 . . . gk.
1.6 Direct Products and Abelian Groups 10
1 k
Definition 1.6.5. Let g be an element of a group G. If g has order m = pÄ… · · · pÄ…
1 k
where pi s are distinct primes, then pi is called the pi-primary part of g.
Theorem 1.6.6. Let A be a finite abelian group of order m = m1m2 . . . mk
i
where the mi s are pairwise relatively prime. Let Ai = {g " A | gm = 1}. Then
<"
A A1 × A2 × · · · × Ak. Moreover |Ai| = mi.
=
Theorem 1.6.7. Let A be an abelian group of order pÄ…, where p is a prime. If
A has exponent p (i.e. ap = 1 for all a " A), then
<"
A Zp × Zp × · · · × Zp = (Zp)Ä….
=

Ä… times
Definition 1.6.8. A group G is called a p-group, where p is a prime, if every
element of G has the order as a (finite) power of p.
Definition 1.6.9. A positive integer n is said to be an exponent of a group G,
if gn = 1 for each g " G. In this case G is said to have finite exponent, and
the least such positive integer n is called the exponent of G.
Theorem 1.6.10 (Burnside Basis Theorem for Abelian p-Group). Let A
be an abelian group of exponent pÄ… where p is a prime. If H is a subgroup of A
and HAp = A, then H = A. (Equivalence: If the cosets Apa1, . . . , Apak of A/Ap
generate A/Ap, then a1, a2, . . . , ak generate A.)
Theorem 1.6.11. If A is a finite abelian group of exponent p, where p is a
<"
prime, then for any H d" A, there exists a subgroup K of A such that A H ×K.
=
(Equivalence: If V is a finite dimensional vector space over Zp and U is a subspace
of V , then there is a subspace W of V such that V = U •" W .)
Theorem 1.6.12. Every finite abelian p-group is a direct product of cyclic
groups.
1 2 m
2 m
Theorem 1.6.13. Let A = (Zp)u × (Zp )u × . . . × (Zp )u , and
1 2 m
m
B = (Zp)v × (Zp2)v × . . . × (Zp )v where ui e" 0, vj e" 0.
<"
If A B, then ui = vi for all i = 1, 2, . . . , m.
=
1.7 The Sylow Theorem and Applications 11
Definition 1.6.14. A partition of a positive integer n is a sequence
{a1, a2, . . . , ak} of positive integers where ai+1 e" ai and a1 + a2 + . . . + ak = n.
The number of partition of n is denoted (n).
Theorem 1.6.15. Let p be a prime and n a positive integer. Then
{Ä…1, Ä…2, . . . , Ä…k} ZpÄ…1
× ZpÄ…2
× . . . × ZpÄ…k
defines a 1-1 correspondence between partitions of n and isomorphism classes of
abelian groups of order pn. In particular, the number of isomorphism classes of
abelian groups of order pn is (n).
Theorem 1.6.16. A finite abelian group is (isomorphic to) a direct product of
cyclic group.
Theorem 1.6.17. Let A be a finite abelian group. Then there exist integers
n1, . . . , nt > 1 such that n1 | n2, n2 | n3, . . . , nt-1 | nt and
<"
A Zn × Zn × . . . × Zn .
=
1 2 t
Moreover, the integers are uniquely defined by A; more preciely if m1, . . . , ms are
<"
integers > 1 such that m1 | m2, m2 | m3, . . . , ms-1 | ms, and A Zn × Zn ×
=
1 2
· · · × Zn <" Zm × Zm × · · · × Zm , then t = s, and n1 = m1, . . . , nt = mt.
=
t 1 2 s
1.7 The Sylow Theorem and Applications
1 k
Definition 1.7.1. Let G be a finite group of order pa · · · pa where pi s are
1 k
i
distinct primes. A subgroup of G of order pa is called a Sylow pi-subgroup of
i
G.
Theorem 1.7.2 (The second proof of Cauchy s Theorem). If G is finite


and p |G| is a positive prime number, then G has an element of order p.
Theorem 1.7.3. Let P be a sylow p-subgroup of G, Q a p-subgroup of G. If
Q Ä…" NG(P ), then Q d" P.
1.7 The Sylow Theorem and Applications 12
Theorem 1.7.4 (The Sylow Theorem). Let G be a group of order pÄ…m where
p is a prime, Ä… > 0, and p m. Then
(i) G contains a Sylow p-subgroup.
(ii) The number of Sylow p-subgroups is a" 1 mod p.
(iii) If H is a p-subgroup of G and P is a Sylow p-subgroup of G, then some
conjugate of P contains H. In particular,
(iv) All Sylow p-subgroups of G are conjugated.
Corollary 1.7.5. The number of Sylow p-subgroup of G divides |G|. (In partic-
ular it divides m if |G| = pÄ…m, p m).
Corollary 1.7.6. Let G be a finite group and S a Sylow p-subgroup of G. Then
S is the only Sylow p-subgroup of G if and only if S G.

n
Theorem 1.7.7. Let n = pÄ…m where p is a prime and p m. Then a" m
pÄ…
mod p.
Theorem 1.7.8 (Combinatorial Proof of The Sylow s Theorem ). Let
|G| = pam, where p is a prime and p m. Then G has a subgroup of order pa.
Theorem 1.7.9. Let G be a finite group and P a Sylow p-subgroup of G. Then
(i) N(P ) is equal to its own normalizer, i.e. N(N(P )) = N(P ).
(ii) If N(P ) d" T d" G, then T is equal to its own normalizer, i.e. N(T ) = T.
Theorem 1.7.10. Let G be a group and |G| = pÄ…m where p is a prime and p m.
Then G has a subgroup of order p² for each ² where 1 d" ² d" Ä…. Moreover, every
subgroup H of G of order p² is normal in a subgroup of order p²+1 for 1 d" ² d" Ä….
Definition 1.7.11. An automorphism of a group G is an isomorphism Ć : G
G. The set of all automorphism of a group G is denoted Aut(G).
Theorem 1.7.12. (i) With group operation the composition of functions,
Aut(G) is a group.
1.7 The Sylow Theorem and Applications 13
(ii) Each g " G determines an automorphism on G, Ćg : G G defined by
Ć(g)(h) = ghg-1. Ćg is called an inner automorphism. The subgroup
of Aut(G) consisting of all such Ćg, {Ćg | g " G} is called the inner
automorphism group of G and is denoted Inn (G).
Ć
(iii) The map g Ćg is a group homomorphism G Aut(G).
(iv) The kernel of Ć is Z(G), i.e. the center of G. The image of Ć is Inn (G).
Definition 1.7.13. A subgroup H of a group G is a characteristic subgroup
if Ć(H) = H for each Ć " Aut(G).
Definition 1.7.14. A group is simple if it has no nontrivial normal subgroups.
Chapter 2
Rings
2.1 Basic Definitions and Examples
Definition 2.1.1. A ring R is a set with two binary operations, called addition
 + and multiplication  · , satisfying the following axioms:
(i) (R, +) is an abelian group, (0 denotes the neutral element),
(ii) (R, ·) is a semigroup, and
(iii) " a, b, c " R, a(b + c) = ab + ac and (b + c)a = ba + ca.
Definition 2.1.2. A ring R is said to be a ring with identity if there is 1 " R
such that 1 · a = a = a · 1 for all a " R. A ring R is commutative if xy = yx
for all x, y in R.
Definition 2.1.3. Let R be a ring and x " R \ {0}. x is called a left (right)
zero divisor if there is an element y = 0 in R such that xy = 0 (yx = 0). x is

called a zero divisor if x is either a left or a right zero divisor.
Definition 2.1.4. A ring R with identity is entire if R has no zero divisor. A
commutative entire ring is called an integral domain.
Definition 2.1.5. Let R be a ring with identity. An element x in R is said to be
invertible if there exists y " R such that xy = yx = 1. In this case y is called
the inverse of x.
2.2 Ring Homomorphisms and Quotient Rings. 15
Definition 2.1.6. A ring D with identity is a division ring (or skew field)
if every nonzero element in D is invertible.
Definition 2.1.7. A commutative division ring is called a field.
Theorem 2.1.8. Every field is an integral domain.
Theorem 2.1.9. Every finite integral domain is a field.
Definition 2.1.10. A subset S Ä…" R is a subring of a ring R if S is a ring with
respect to + and · in R.
Theorem 2.1.11. Let S be a nonempty subset of a ring R. Then S is a subring
of R if and only if a - b and ab " S for all a, b " S.
2.2 Ring Homomorphisms and Quotient Rings.
Definition 2.2.1. Let R and S be rings. Ć : R S is called a (ring) homo-
morphism if
Ć(x + y) = Ć(x) + Ć(y) and Ć(xy) = Ć(x)Ć(y) " x, y " R.
The kernel of Ć, denoted ker Ć is the set {x " R | Ć(x) = 0}. An isomorphism
is a bijective homomorphism.
Definition 2.2.2. Let A be a subring of a ring R. Then A is called a left (right)
ideal of R if RA Ä…" A (AR Ä…" A). A is an ideal of R if A is both a left and right
ideal of R.
Theorem 2.2.3. Let R be a ring and I an ideal of R. Then R/I is a ring under
the operations
(r + I) + (s + I) = (r + s) + I
(r + I)(s + I) = rs + I.
It is called the quotient (or factor) ring of R by I.
The map È : R R/I defined by È(r) = r + I is a ring homomorphism
which is surjective and has the kernel I. È is called the canonical (or natural)

projection of R onto R I.
2.2 Ring Homomorphisms and Quotient Rings. 16
Theorem 2.2.4. Let Õ : R S be a ring homomorphism. Then
(i) Im Õ is a subring of S,
(ii) ker Õ is an ideal of R, and
<"
(iii) R/ ker Õ Im Õ.
=
Theorem 2.2.5 (The Second Isomorphism Theorem). Let S be a subring
of R and let I be an ideal of R. Then
(i) S + I is a subring of R,
(ii) S )" I is an ideal of S, and
<"
(iii) (S + I)/I S/(S )" I).
=
Theorem 2.2.6 (The Third Isomorphism Theorem). Let I be an ideal of

R and A be an ideal of R containing I. Then A I is an ideal of R I and

<"
(R I) (A I) R A.
=
Theorem 2.2.7. Let I be an ideal of R. The correspondence A "! A/I is an
inclusion preserving bijection between the set of subrings A of R containing I and
the set of subrings of R/I. Furthermore, a subring A containing I is an ideal of
R if and only if A/I is an ideal of R/I.
Theorem 2.2.8. A ring R with 1 is a division ring if and only if 0 and R are
the only left (right ) ideals of R.
Corollary 2.2.9. Let R be a commutative ring with 1. Then R is a field if and
only if its only ideals are 0 and R.
Corollary 2.2.10. If R is a field then any nonzero ring homomorphism from R
into another ring is an injection.
2.3 Properties of Ideals. 17
2.3 Properties of Ideals.
From now on R is a ring with identity 1 = 0.

Definition 2.3.1. Let A be a nonempty subset of a ring R. The ideal generated
by A, denoted (A) is the smallest ideal of R containing A. An ideal generated by
a single element set, {a}, is called a principal ideal, it will be denoted (a).
If A = {a1, a2, . . . , an}, the ideal generate by A is called a finitely generated
ideal and denoted (a1, a2, . . . , an).
RA = {r1a1 + r2a2 + . . . + rnan | ri " R, ai " A, n " N}
is the left ideal generated by A.
AR = {a1r1 + a2r2 + . . . + anrn | ri " R, ai " A, n " N}
is the right ideal generated by A.
RAR = {r1a1s1 + r2a2s2 + . . . + rnansn | ri, si " R, ai " A, n " N}
is the ideal generated by A.
Definition 2.3.2. An ideal M of a ring R is called a maximal ideal if M = R

and the only ideals containing M are M and R.
Theorem 2.3.3. Every proper ideal in a ring with identity 1 = 0 is contained in

a maximal ideal.
Theorem 2.3.4. Let R be a commutative ring and M an ideal of R. Then M is
an maximal ideal if and only if R/M is a field.
Definition 2.3.5. Let R be a ring and P an ideal of R with P = R. P is called

a prime ideal if whenever A and B are ideals of R and AB Ä…" P , then A Ä…" P or
B Ä…" P . If, in addition, R is commutative, then this notion becomes the notion
of prime in Z.
Lemma 2.3.6. An ideal P of a ring R is prime if and only if for any a and b in
R, aRb Ä…" P implies a " P or b " P .
2.3 Properties of Ideals. 18
Theorem 2.3.7. Let R be a commutative ring and P an ideal of R with P = R.

Then P is prime if and only if ab " P implies a " P or b " P for any a, b " R.
Theorem 2.3.8. Let P be an ideal of a commutative ring R. Then P is a prime
ideal if and only if R/P is an integral domain.
Corollary 2.3.9. Every maximal ideal of a commutative ring is a prime ideal.
Definition 2.3.10. Let R be a commutative ring with 1 and x, y " R. We
say that x divides y, denoted x | y if there exists q " R such that y = xq (i.e.
Ry Ä…" Rx or (y) Ä…" (x)).
Definition 2.3.11. Let R be an integral domain and a, b " R. We say that a
and b are associated if a | b and b | a.
Theorem 2.3.12. Let R be an integral domain, a, b " R. Then TFAE:
(i) a and b are associated,
(ii) Ra = Rb, and
(iii) a = ub for some u " U(R).
Definition 2.3.13. Let R be an integral domain and a, b " R. A greatest
common divisor of a and b is an element d which satisfies:
(i) d | a and d | b, and
(ii) if d1 | a and d1 | b, then d1 | d.
A least common multiple of a and b is an element m which satisfies:
(i) a | m and b | m, and
(ii) if a | m1 and b | m1, then m | m1.
Theorem 2.3.14. Let R be an integral domain and a, b " R.
(i) If d and d1 are gcd s of a and b, then d and d1 are associated.
2.4 Euclidean Domains 19
(ii) If m and m1 are lcm s of a and b, then m and m1 are associated.
Theorem 2.3.15. Let R be an integral domain. If Ra + Rb = Rc, then c =
gcd(a, b).
Definition 2.3.16. Let R be an integral domain. A nonzero element p is called
a prime in R if Rp is a prime ideal.
Definition 2.3.17. Let R be an integral domain. An element a in R is called
an irreducible element (atom) if
(i) a = 0 and a " U(R), and
/
(ii) a cannot be expressed as a product a = bc where b " U(R), c " U(R).
/ /
Theorem 2.3.18. Every prime element in an integral domain is irreducible.
2.4 Euclidean Domains
Definition 2.4.1. A function N : R N *" {0} = N0 is called a norm on an
integral domain R if N (0) = 0.
A norm N is said to be multiplicative if it satisfies the following conditions:
(i) N (a) = 0 if and only if a = 0.
(ii) N (ab) = N (a)N (b) for all a, b " R.
Proposition 2.4.2. Let R be an integral domain with a multiplicative norm N
on R. Then
(i) N (u) = 1 for every unit u in R.
(ii) If in addition N has a property that every x such that N (x) = 1 is a unit
in R, then an element Ä„ in R, with N (Ä„) = p for some prime p in Z, is an
irreducible element of R.
Definition 2.4.3. Let R be an integral domain. R is said to be a Euclidean
Domain if there is a function N from R {0} to N satisfying
2.5 Principal Ideal Domains 20
(i) N (ab) e" N (a) for all nonzero elements a and b in R.
(ii) If a, b " R and b = 0, then there exist q, r " R such that a = bq + r with

r = 0 or r = 0 and N (r) < N (b).

Proposition 2.4.4. Let R be a Euclidean Domain with norm N . Then
(i) N (1) is minimal among N (a) for all nonzero a " R.
(ii) U(R) = {u " R | N (u) = 1}.
Theorem 2.4.5. Z[i] is a Euclidean Domain.(with respect to the norm N (a +
bi) = a2 + b2.)
Theorem 2.4.6. Every ideal of a Euclidean domain is a principal ideal.
Theorem 2.4.7 (Euclidean Algorithm). Let R be a Euclidean domain and
let a and b be elements in R. Then
Ra + Rb = Rc
for some c " R. Furthermore, c can be explicitly constructed and gcd(a, b) = c
so gcd(a, b) always exists.
2.5 Principal Ideal Domains
Definition 2.5.1. A Principal Ideal Domain (PID) is an integral domain
in which every ideal is principal.
Theorem 2.5.2. Every nonzero prime ideal in a PID is a maximal ideal.
Theorem 2.5.3. In a PID, (p) is a maximal ideal if and only if p is irreducible.
Corollary 2.5.4. Let R be a PID and p " R. Then p is irreducible if and only
if (p) is a prime ideal.
Theorem 2.5.5. In a PID, a nonzero element is a prime if and only if it is
irreducible.
2.6 Unique factorization Domains 21
Theorem 2.5.6 (ACC for ideals in a PID). Let D be a PID. If I1 Ä…" I2 Ä…" . . .
is a monotonic ascending chain of ideals, then there exists r such that Is = Ir for
all s e" r. (Ascending chain condition (ACC) holds for ideals in a PID.)
Theorem 2.5.7. Every Euclidean Domain is a PID.
2.6 Unique factorization Domains
Definition 2.6.1. A Unique Factorization Domain(UFD) is an integral
domain R in which every nonzero nonunit element a " R has the following
factorization property:
(i) a is a (finite) product of irreducible elements of R, and
(ii) the decomposition of (i) is unique up to associates, namely if a = p1p2 . . . pm
= q1q2 . . . qn where pi, qi are irreducible, then m = n and there is a reorder-
ing qi , . . . , qi of q1, . . . , qm such that pj and qi are associated.
1 m j
Theorem 2.6.2. Let R be an integral domain. Then R is a UFD if and only if
(i) Every nonzero nonunit element of R is a product of irreducible elements.
(ii) Every irreducible element is a prime.
Definition 2.6.3. Let R be an integral domain. Define an equivalence relation
on the set of irreducible elements of R by
a <" b Ð!Ò! a and b are associated.
Then a set of representative irreducible elements of R is a set which
contains exactly one irreducible elements from each equivalence class.
Theorem 2.6.4. Let R be an integral domain and P be a set of representative
irreducible element of R. Then TFAE:
(i) R is a UFD.
2.7 Fields of Fractions 22
(ii) Every nonzero nonunit element of R can be expressed uniquely (up to or-
1 k
dering) as a = upÄ… · · · pÄ… , where u is a unit k e" 0, Ä…1, · · · , Ä…k > 0 and
1 k
p1, . . . , pk are distinct elements of P .
Theorem 2.6.5. Let R be a UFD and a, b " R. Then
(i) a and b have a gcd.
(ii) a and b have an lcm.
(iii) If P is a set of representative irreducible elements for R, then among the
gcd of a and b, there is exactly one which is a product of elements of P .
The same is true for lcm.
(iv) If a and b are nonzero, gcd(a, b) = d and lcm(a, b) = m then ab and dm
are associated.
Theorem 2.6.6. Every PID is a UFD. In particular, every Euclidean domain is
a UFD.
2.7 Fields of Fractions
Theorem 2.7.1. Let R be an integral domain. Define a relation <" on S =
R × (R \ {0}) by
(r1, s1) <" (r2, s2) Ð!Ò! r1s2 = r2s1.
Then
(i) <" is an equivalence relation on S.
(ii) Q(R) = S/ <" is a field under the following addition and multiplication:
[(r1, s1)] + [(r2, s2)] = [(r1s2 + r2s1, s1s2)],
[(r1, s1)] · [(r2, s2)] = [(r1r2, s1s2)].
(iii) Q(R) is the smallest field containing R in the sense that any field containing
an isomorphic copy of R in which all nonzero elements of R are units must
contain an isomorphic copy of Q(R).
2.8 Polynomial Rings 23
Definition 2.7.2. The field in Theorem 2.7.1 is called the field of fractions
or quotient field of R.
2.8 Polynomial Rings
Definition 2.8.1. The polynomial ring R[x] in the indeterminate x with co-
efficient from R is the set of formal sums of the form
f(x) = anxn + an-1xn-1 + · · · + a1x + a0,
where n e" 0, a0, . . . , an " R with an = 0. The integer n is called the degree of

f. The degree of  0 is defined to be -". The polynomial f is called monic if
an = 1.
Define the addition and the multiplication on R[x] as follows:
n n n

( aixi) + ( bixi) = (ai + bi)xi
i=0 i=0 i=0
n n m+n k

( aixi) · ( bixi) = ( aibk-i)xk,
i=0 i=0 k=0 i=0
where some leading terms ai or bj are allowed to be zero.
Then R[x] is a ring with identity 1. If R is commutative then so is R[x]. Note
that R can be considered as a subring of R[x].
Theorem 2.8.2. Let R be an integral domain (entire ring) and f(x), g(x) " R[x].
Then
(i) deg(f(x) + g(x)) d" max{deg f(x), deg g(x)} (note that the hypothesis that
R is an integral domain is unnecessary).
(ii) deg(f(x)g(x)) = deg f(x) + deg g(x).
(iii) U(R[x]) = U(R).
(iv) R[x] is an integral domain. (entire ring).
2.8 Polynomial Rings 24
Theorem 2.8.3. Let R be a commutative ring with 1 and i : R R[x] the
inclusion map. Let S be a commutative ring with 1 and Ć : R S a ring
Ć
homomorphism. Then there exists a unique homomorphism Ć : R[x] S such
Ć Ć
that Ć(x) = a where a " S and Ć = Ć ć% i. In particular, if R = S, then
Ć Ć Ć
Ć : R[x] R is given by Ć(f(x)) = f(a) and ker Ć = R[x](x - a), the ideal of
R[x] generated by x - a.
Definition 2.8.4. The polynomial ring in the variables x1, x2, . . . , xn with
coefficients in R is denoted by R[x1, . . . , xn] and defined inductively by
R[x1, x2, . . . , xn-1][xn].
Theorem 2.8.5 (Division Algorithm). Let R be a ring with 1 (not necessary
commutative). Let f(x) be a monic polynomial of degree n in R[x]. Then for
any g(x) " R[x], there exist unique polynomials q(x) and r(x) in R[x] satisfying
(i) g(x) = f(x)q(x) + r(x).
(ii) deg r(x) < n.
Theorem 2.8.6. Let R be a commutative ring with 1, a " R and f(x) " R[x].
Then
(i) " g(x) " R[x], f(x) = (x - a)g(x) + f(a).
(ii) (x - a)|f(x) Ð!Ò! f(a) = 0.
Definition 2.8.7. Let f(x) " R[x] and a " R. Then a is called a root of f(x) if
f(a) = 0.
Theorem 2.8.8. Let R be an integral domain and f(x) " R[x]\{0}. If
a1, a2, . . . , ak are distinct roots of f(x), then (x - a1)(x - a2) · · · (x - ak)|f(x).
Theorem 2.8.9. If F is field, then F [x] is a Euclidean Domain.
Theorem 2.8.10. Let F be a field.
(i) If f(x) " F [x] and deg f = n, then f(x) has at most n distinct roots.
2.8 Polynomial Rings 25
(ii) If f(x), g(x) " F [x] and deg f, deg g d" n, and f(Ä…i) = g(Ä…i) for all i =
1, 2, . . . , n + 1 where Ä…i s are distinct elements in F , then f(x) = g(x).
Definition 2.8.11. Let f(x) " R and a a root of f(x). If f(x) is divisible by
(x - a)m but not by (x - a)m+1 for some positive integer m, then a is said to be
a root of multiplicity m.
Corollary 2.8.12. If F is a field, f(x) " F [x], and degf(x) = n, then f(x) has
at most n roots.
Theorem 2.8.13. Let F be a field with q elements. Then
"
(i) F = F \{0} is a cyclic group (under multiplication) of order q - 1.
"
(ii) If F = {a1, . . . , aq-1}, then (x - a1)(x - a2) · · · (x - aq-1) = xq-1 - 1.
(iii) If F = {0, a1, . . . , aq-1}, then x(x - a1)(x - a2) · · · (x - aq-1) = xq - x.
Theorem 2.8.14. Let F be a field. Then
(i) Linear polynomials (polynomial of degree 1) are irreducible in F [x].
(ii) Linear polynomials are the only irreducible elements in F [x] iff each poly-
nomial of positive degree has a root in F .
Definition 2.8.15. Let R be a UFD and f(x) = anxn + an-1xn-1 + · · · + a1 + a0
is a nonzero polynomial over R. The content of f(x) is the greatest common
divisor of a0, a1, . . . , an. We say that f(x) is primitive if a0, a1, . . . , an have no
common divisor except units.
Theorem 2.8.16. Let R be a UFD and f(x), g(x) " R[x]. If f(x) and g(x) are
primitive, then so is f(x)g(x).
Theorem 2.8.17. Let R be a UFD and f(x) and g(x) are nonzero polynomials
of F [x]. Then
(i) f(x) is primitive iff the content of f(x) is 1.
(ii) If a is the content of f, then f(x) = af1(x) where f1(x) is primitive.
2.8 Polynomial Rings 26
(iii) If f(x) = af1(x) where f1(x) is primitive, then a is a content of f.
(iv) If a is the content of f(x) and b is the content of g(x), then ab is the content
of fg.
Theorem 2.8.18. Let R be a UFD and F = Q(R) be its field of fraction. If
f(x) is an irreducible polynomial in R[x], then f(x), considered as a polynomial
in F [x] is irreducible in F [x]. In particular, if f(x) " Z[x] is irreducible in Z,
then f(x) is irreducible over Q.
Theorem 2.8.19. Let R be a UFD and F its field of quotient. Let f(x) =
r
anxn + an-1xn-1 + · · · + a1x + a0 " R[x]. If " F is a root of f(x), where r and
s
s are relatively prime, then (sx - r)|f(x) in R[x] and so s|an and r|a0 if r = 0.

Corollary Let R be a UFD and F its field of fractions. Let f(x) " R[x] be
primitive. Then f(x) is irreducible in R[x] iff f(x) is irreducible in F [x].
Theorem 2.8.20 (Eisenstein s Criterion). Let P be a prime ideal of the in-
tegral domain R and let f(x) = xn + an-1xn-1 + · · · + a1x + a0 be a polynomial
in R[x] (n e" 1). Assume that an-1, an-2, . . . , a1, a0 are all in P and a0 is not in
2
P .Then f(x) is irreducible in R[x].
Corollary (Eisenstein s Criterion for Z[x]) Let p be a prime in Z and let
f(x) = xn + an-1xn-1 + · · · + a1x + a0 " Z[x](n e" 1). If p|ai for all i but p2 a0,
then f(x) is irreducible in both Z[x] and Q[x].
Theorem 2.8.21. Let R be UFD and F its field of fractions. Let f(x) " R[x].
Then f(x) is irreducible in R[x] iff either
(i) f(x) " R and f(x) is irreducible in R, or
(ii) f(x) is a primitive polynomial of degree n e" 1 and f(x) is irreducible in
F [x].
Theorem 2.8.22. Let R be a UFD and f(x) " R[x]. If f(x) is irreducible in
R[x], then (f(x)) is a prime ideal, i.e. f(x) is a prime.
2.8 Polynomial Rings 27
Theorem 2.8.23. If R is a UFD, then R[x] is a UFD.
Corollary If R is a UFD then a polynomial ring in an arbitrary number of
variables with coefficient in R is also a UFD.
Chapter 3
Fields
3.1 The Characteristic Fields
Definition 3.1.1. The characteristic of a field F , denoted char(F ), is the
smallest positive integer m with the property that m · 1 = 0 provided such a m
exists, otherwise, it is defined to be 0.
Proposition 3.1.2. For any field F , char(F ) is either 0 or a prime p.
3.2 Extension Fields and Degrees of Extensions
Definition 3.2.1. A field K is said to be an extension field of a field F and is
denoted K|F , if K ‡" F . The dimension of K as a vector space over F is called
the degree of a field extension K|F , denoted [K : F ]. The extension is said
to be finite if [K : F ] is finite and it is said to be infinite otherwise.
Theorem 3.2.2. If K|E and E|F are finite field extensions, then K|F is also a
finite field extension and
[K : F ] = [K : E][E : F ]
.
3.2 Extension Fields and Degrees of Extensions 29
Theorem 3.2.3. Let F be a field and p(x) " F [x] be an irreducible polynomial.
Then there is an extension field E of F in which p(x) has a root and [E : F ] =
deg p(x). Moreover
E = {bn-1¸n-1+bn-2¸n-2+· · ·+b1¸+b0 | bn-1, bn-2, ..., b1, b0 " F } where ¸ = x+(p(x)).
Definition 3.2.4. Let K|F be a field extension of a field F and Ä…1, Ä…2, . . . , Ä…n "
K. The intersection of all subfields of K containing F and Ä…1, Ä…2, . . . , . . . , Ä…n,
is called the field generated by Ä…1, Ä…2, . . . , . . . , Ä…n over F and is denoted
F (Ä…1, Ä…2, . . . , Ä…n).
It is the smallest subfield with the above property. In particular, for each
Ä… " K, F (Ä…) is the smallest subfields of K containing F and Ä….
Lemma 3.2.5. Let K|F be a field extension of a field F . Let Ä…, ² " K. Then
F (Ä…, ²) = (F (Ä…))(²).
Moreover, if [F (Ä…) : F ] = m and [F (Ä…)(²) : F (Ä…)] = n, then [F (Ä…, ²)] = mn and

any element of F (Ä…, ²) has the form aijÄ…i²j.
i=1,2,...,m
j=1,2,...,n
Definition 3.2.6. Let E1 and E2 be subfields of E. Then the composite field
of E1 and E2, denoted E1E2, is the smallest subfield of E containing both E1 and
E2. In general, the composite of any collection of subfields of E is the smallest
subfield of E containing all the subfields.
Theorem 3.2.7. Let E1 and E2 be two finite field extensions of a filed F both
contained in E. Then [E1E2 : F ] d" [E1 : F ][E2 : F ].
Corollary Let E1 and E2 be two finite field extensions of a field F both contained
in E. Assume [E1 : F ] = m and [E2 : F ] = n where (m, n) = 1. Then
[E1E2 : F ] = [E1 : F ][E2 : F ] = mn
Theorem 3.2.8. Let p(x) be an irreducible polynomial of F [x]. Let K be an
extension field of F containing a root Ä… of p(x). Then
<"
(i) F (Ä…) F [x]/(p(x)).
=
3.3 Algebraic Extensions 30
(ii) If deg p(x) = n, then F (Ä…) = {a0 + a1Ä… + · · · + an-1Ä…n-1 | ai " F }.

Theorem 3.2.9. Let Õ : F F be a field isomorphism. Then Õ induces a ring

isomorphism Õ"F [x] F [x] with the property that Õ"(a) = Õ(a) for all a " F ,
and Õ" maps a irreducible polynomial to the a irreducible polynomial. Moreover,
if Ä… is a root of an irreducible polynomial p(x) and ² is a root of Õ"(p(x)), then

there exists an isomorphism à : F (Ä…) F (²) mapping Ä… to ² and extending Õ.
3.3 Algebraic Extensions
Definition 3.3.1. Let E|F be a field extension. Ä… " E is said to be algebraic
over F if Ä… is a root of some polynomial f(x) " F [x]. If Ä… is not algebraic over
F , then Ä… is said to be transcendental over F . E|F is said to be algebraic if
every element of E is algebraic over F , and E is called an algebraic extension
of F .
Theorem 3.3.2. Let E|F be an extension and assume that Ä… " E is algebraic
over F . Then
(i) "! monic irreducible polynomial, denoted mF (Ä…), which has Ä… as a root.
(ii) f(x) " F [x] has Ä… as a root iff mF (Ä…) divides f(x) in F [x] (i.e. if I =
{f(x) " F [x] | f(Ä…) = 0}, then I is the ideal generated by mF (Ä…)).
<"
(iii) F (Ä…) F [x]/(mF (Ä…)) and [F (Ä…) : F ] = deg mF (Ä…).
=
(iv) F [Ä…] = F (Ä…).
Definition 3.3.3. The unique monic irreducible polynomial mF (Ä…) in theorem
3.3.2 is called the minimal polynomial for Ä… over F . The degree of mF (Ä…) is
called the degree of Ä… over F , denoted deg(Ä…, F )
Theorem 3.3.4. Let E|F be an extension and Ä… " E. Then Ä… is algebraic over
F iff F [Ä…] is the field F (Ä…), where F [Ä…] = {f(Ä…) | f(x) " F [x]}.
Theorem 3.3.5. Let E|F be an extension. If [E : F ] < ", then E is algebraic
over F .
3.4 Finite Fields 31
Theorem 3.3.6. Let K|F be an extension. Then [K : F ] is finite if and only if
K = F (Ä…1, Ä…2, ..., Ä…k) for some algebraic elements Ä…1, Ä…2, ..., Ä…k over F. Moreover
if, for each i, [F (Ä…i) : F ] = ni, then [K : F ] d" n1n2 · · · nk.
Corollary Let K|F be an extension. Then the set of elements of K that are
algebraic over F forms a subfield of K.
Theorem 3.3.7. If K|E and E|F are algebraic extensions, then so is K|F .
3.4 Finite Fields
Theorem 3.4.1. Every finite field must have prime power order.
Corollary 3.4.2. Every element of a finite field with characteristic p is algebraic
over Zp.
Definition 3.4.3. The extension field K of F is called a splitting field for the
polynomial f(x) " F [x] if f(x) factors completely into linear factors (or splits
completely) in K[x] and f(x) does not factor completely into linear factors over
any proper subfield of K containing F.
Theorem 3.4.4. For any field F , if f(x) " F [x], then there exists an extension
K of F which is a splitting field for f(x).

Theorem 3.4.5. Let Õ : F F be an isomorphism of fields. Let f(x) " F [x]

and let f (x) " F [x] be the polynomial obtained by applying Õ to the coefficients
of f(x). Let E be a splitting field for f(x) over F and Let E be a splitting field for

f (x) over F . Then the isomorphism Õ extends to an isomorphism à : E E .
Theorem 3.4.6. (Uniqueness of Splitting Fields) Any two splitting fields for a
polynomial f(x) " F [x] over a field F are isomorphic.
Theorem 3.4.7. For each prime p and each positive integer n, there is (up to
isomorphism) a unique finite field of order pn.
3.5 Simple Extensions 32
3.5 Simple Extensions
Definition 3.5.1. Let K|F be a field extension. K is called a simple extension
of F if K = F (Ä…) for some Ä… " K and this Ä… is called a primitive element for the
extension.
Theorem 3.5.2 (Artin). Let E|F be a finite degree field extension. Then E =
F (Ä…) for some Ä… " E if and only if there are only finitely many field K with
F Ä…" K Ä…" E.
Corollary 3.5.3. Let K|F be a field extension. Assume that K = F (Ä…) for some
Ä… which is algebraic over F . Then E is a simple extension for any field E such
that F Ä…" E Ä…" K.
Theorem 3.5.4. If F is a field of characteristic 0 and if Ä… and ² are algebraic
over F , then there is Å‚ " F (Ä…, ²) such that F (Ä…, ²) = F (Å‚).